A few rare North American lepiotoid mushrooms demonstrate dramatic blue to green staining when handled or dried; among them, Leucoagaricus caerulescens is distinct in having white flesh and gills. Lepiota viridiflavoides, described from Florida, also bruises blue, but has yellow gills and flesh.

The illustrated collection was made in Texas by mushroom expert Jay Justice. The little mushroom appeared to be one of a gazillion little lepiotoid species best sorted out with microscopic analysis, until it began to bruise pinkish and reddish. Then Jay and I watched in amazement as it began to turn blue--first on the stem, then the cap, and finally, when placed in a dryer, nearly overall.

Lepiota virescens is a synonym. Leucoagaricus caerulescens was placed in Leucoagaricus by Liang and collaborators (2010) on the basis of morphological study of the type collection; it was formerly Lepiota caerulescens.

Stem: Up to 6 cm long; up to 2 mm thick; more or less equal, with a small basal bulb; bald; whitish, bruising pinkish to reddish on handling, then turning blue; with a persistent but fragile, sheathing ring.